The Grenada gazette., 1887-10-22
THE TIMBER PROBLEM.
Threatened Evils and Suggestion Relat4
ing to Thor Prevention.
WcodmaI, spare that tree

Threstened Evils and Suggestions Relat.
ing to Their Prevention.
Wcodman, spare that tree
G. r. Norris.
There were two things the early set
Tiers of this country disliked-vz.
Indians and woods; and to kill one and
chop down the other was the height Of
earthly ambition. This latter trait is SO
deeply rooted yet that tho timber of this
country Is being rapidly exhAasted. We
did hope that the discovery Of natural
gas, in connection with cheap coal,
would somewhat spare the trees; but
We note that, as wood can not be sold
for fuel at much profit, they put it
into log heaps and burn it up. The
sentiment seems to be that the forests
"must CO." As to the final conse.
quences. every intelligent observer
can predict,
1t is well known that Spain was once
one of the most fertile countries on the
globe. That was in the days Philip H.,
when the interior of the peninsula was
covered with vast forests. Those for
ests were destroyed, and to-day the
country is almost desert.
Egypt. in the days of the Pha.
roahs. was a fertile, well-wood-
country, and, we are told. ri-
vailed even the Garden of the Lord"
To-day, Egypt is treeless and a desert.
1t is well-known fact that. as the
amount of timber increases on our
Western prairies, the average rainfall
increases, and vice versa. The capac-
ity Of the soil to retain moisture de-
pends. to a great extent on the timber
in its vicinity. In many of the Middle
States, Ohio for example, the forests
have been SO effectually cleared off
that uniform rainfall is u thing Of the
past; hence one part of the State will
burn up with drought, while other
parts are deluged with excessive rains,
which rush off instantly into the creeks
and rivers, tearing away the virgin
bottom lands and submcrging cities,
leaving the soil packed, and n few
days of scorching heat make the last
stage worse than the first.
The soil has, to a great extent.
CEASED to be factor in drawing rain,
because 1t has no moisture to draw it,
with its capacity to retain moisture de-
creasing in proportion as tho forests
are destroyed. Hence, when warm
and cold current of air meet, rain
follows wherever the meeting takes
place; and when it begins to fall the
earth in that place becomes moist and
continues to attract, and the rain con.
inues to fall in that particular place.
All know the old saying that When
t once begins to rain it will rain on"
Those parts Of tho country which lie
unfortunately outside the meeting
olace Of the currents continue dry and
,arched. We're moisture more uni
ormly distributed when it begins to
ain the capacity of the soil to attract
would be more powerful. and long
lrouths would be rare.
As timber becomes scarce, countless
Millions of destructive insects which
worked in the woods for lack
# room, now deluge our fruit trees
nd vegetables, and make it almost
to raise fruit. where in
arly times it flourished. Here and
here are societies and individuals
,ho raise the warning cry. But still
he waste goes on at the rate
ten millions of acres annually.
IL most of the European countries
'rests are protected by law. In
rance and Germany the forest
rea is the same it was three
undred years ago, and in those
ountries excessive drouths and rains
re rare. In Japan, for every tree cut
own ono must be set ont in its place.
n all these countries the forests are
overnment property; and, of course,
/ our country things are different.
In some countries trees are planted
long all the public highways, the ad.
antages Of which system are self-evi-
ant. There are thousands of acres Of
aste land, especially wornout hill.
des, which do not pay taxes in every
,unty. but which ought to be in tim
or, sowed down in some sort of val.
able grass, and thus become elegant ;
ssture and aid very materially in
living the rain problem. It may be .
'gued that it would be unconstitu- ,
onal for Government to interfere in !
'ivate property; but the majority :,
ust rule, and our laws should be '
ade to do the greatest good to the
eatest number; hence, IL it is self .
ident that the preservation of our !
rests is essential to our future well "
re, and even existence, it behooves
r legislators to take the mater in
nd. regardless Of individual claims +"
preiudices. Cor. Cincinnati COM :,
,rcial- Gazette. +.
Peculiar Freak Of Insanity. Il
Keeper Maest of the Eric County r.